Bracket for step-ladders and the like.



No. 821,498. PATENTED MAY 22, 1906. J. JACKSON.

BRACKET FOR STEP LADDERS AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 19.1905.

zen of the United States,

JOHN JACKSON, OF CLINTON, IOWA.

BRACKET FOR STEP-LADDERS AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 22, 1906.

Application filed ly 1 5- Sefial 270,344.

To all whom it may concern: 7

Be it known that L'JOHN JAoKsoN, a citiresiding at Clinton, in the county of Clinton and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful Improvements in Brackets for Step-Ladders and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in step-ladder structures, and particularly to brackets for reliably and expeditiously securing the steps to the side raf ls of step-ladders or for attaching other similar angularly-disposed parts or cooperating members.

The improved bracket is of that type formed from a single piece of wire or a metallic rod and bent into shape to provide a step or shelf supporting arm or member of a particular contour and a depending brace-arm for attachment to a side rail of the step-ladder or to a vertical shelf-support.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a side rail and step of a ladder, showing the improved bracket applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through a portion of the side ral and step shown by Fi 1 and illustrating the means for securing t e bracket in applied condition. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a portion of the rail shown by Fig. 1 and illustrating the outer terminal fastening or holding means of the bracket. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the bracket.

Sim'lar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

The numeral 1 designates a step or shelf supporting-arm continuing at its inner extremity into an eye 2, from which a bracearm 3 depends in an outward oblique direction and terminates in a securing-eye 4. The outer terminal of the supporting-arm 1 is normally straight and when the bracket is applied is bent or directed inplanes at right angles to said arm to provide a holding hook or projection 5, which is preferably disposed in a horizontal plane, the said terminal being inserted through an opening 6, formed in the side rail 7 of the step-ladder, or through a similar opening in a vertical support having a shelf. The under portion of the ladder, step, or shelf 8 at a distance inwardly from the side rail or vertical support therefor is formed with a recess 9 to receive the eye 2, which is pushed upwardly thereinto, and at a suitable distance below the under side of the step or shelf 8 in the inner portion of the rail or vertical support 7 a'recess 10 is formed to re celve the eye 4 at the lower end of the arm 3.

In applying the bracket either to a step-ladder or shelf and support for the latter the opening 6 and recesses 9 ,and 10 are first constructed, the opening 6 being of such dimensions as to permit the hook or projection 5 on the outer end of the supporting-arm 1 to be inserted therethrough. After the hook or projection 5 has been closely applied against the outer surface of the side rail or vertical support, as shown by Fig. 3, the eyes 2 and 4 are forced into their respective recesses 9 and 10 and secured by means of nails or other fastenings 11, which are driven through the step or shelf and side rail or vertical support and the said eyes.

As clearly shown by Fig. 4, the loop 2 is formed by rebending the wire or rod used in producing the complete bracket, and the said eye is projected above the supporting-arm 1 and has practically the same angle of inclination as the brace-arm 3, and hence when this eye is inserted in the recess 9 it will have the tendency to draw outwardly on the part which it engages and insure a rigid fastening and bracing means which will be found to be an effective auxiliary to the ordinary securing devices employed for the ladder step or shelf.

By embedding the lower eye 4 in the recess 10 and driving a nail or analogous fastening therethrough downward movement of the step or shelf is prevented and the pressure strain is materi allyreli eved from the ordinarly fastenin s of the shelf or step. The wire or rod usef in forming the bracket may be of .any dimensions proportionate to the size of the step or shelf to which it is applied, and it will be seen that the two eyes 2 and 4 have practically the same direction or are in a plane parallel with the supporting and brace arms of which they form a part, instead of being disposed at angles to said arms, and this disposition of the eyes, in conjunction with the recesses 9 and 10, in which they are fitted and secured, not only simplifies the application of the bracket, but results in a stronger support and also permits a more expeditious assemblage of the bracket with a step or shelf and a side rail or vertical support. The drawing tension of the bracket when applied may be materially increased by hammering the outer bent terminal or projection 5 against the outer surface of the said rail or vertical support with which it engages. An-

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other advantage resulting from the disposition of the angular terminal or projection 5 at the outer end of the arm 1 is that it will extend across the grain in a plane at a right angle to the latter, and thereby more efficiently perform its function as a securing means and be less liable to work loose, especially if applied to soft wood and which might result if the saidterminal or projection eX- tended lengthwise of the grain.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. The combination with angularly-disposed structural members, one of which is vertical, of a bracket of the class set forth, formed from a single piece of material and haw'ng a horizontal supporting-arm, and an outwardly-inclined brace-arm, eyes being rovided at the intersection of the two arms and at the lower terminal of the brace-arm, and disposed in planes parallel with said arms, the supporting-arm being projected through the said vertical member.

2. The combination with angularly-d1s posed structural members, one of which is vertical, of a bracket of the class set forth, having a horizontal supporting-arm, an outwardly-inclined brace-arm, and eyes at the intersection of the two arms and at the free terminal of the brace-arm, the eyes at the intersection of the two arms being elevated above the plane of the supporting-arm and parallel with the latter, the supportingarm being projected through the said vertical member.

3. The combination with angularly-disposed structural members, one of which is vertical, of a bracket of the class set forth having a supporting-arm with a downwardly and outwardly inclined bracing-arm, and securing-eyes at the intersection of the two arms and at the lower terminal of the bracing arm, the outer terminal "of the securing-arm being formed with an angularly-disposed projection when applied and which is arranged in a horizontal plane, the supporting-arm being projected through the said vertical member.

4. The combination with angularly-disposed structural members, one of which is vertical, of a bracket of the class set forth having a supporting-arm, and a downwardly and outwardly inclined bracingarm, the two arms at their intersection and also at the lower end of the bracing-arm having means for fastening the same, the outer terminal of the supporting-arm being bent when applied, the sup orting-arm being projected through the sai vertical member.

5. The combination with angularly-disposed structural members such as a step and side rail of a ste -ladder or a shelf and its vertical support, 0 a bracket having a horizontal supporting-arm with its outer extremity inserted through the ladder rail or vertical support, and a downwardly and outwardly inclined brace-arm, the two arms at their point of intersection and at the lower terminal of the brace-arm having eyes which are inserted in the contiguous structural members, and fastening devices inserted through the said members and eyes in planes at right angles to the latter, the outer terminal of the supporting-arm being bent at an angle when the bracket is applied.

6. The combination with a step and side rail of a step-ladder or analogous structure, of a bracket having a supporting-arm and an outwardly and downwardly inclined bracearm provided with securing-eyes at their points of intersection and at the lower terminal of the brace-arm, the said securing-eyes being inserted in the under side of the step and inner side of the rail, and fastening means inserted through the step and rail and the eyes and disposed in planes parallel to the latter.

7. The combination with a step and side rail of a step-ladder or analogous structure, of a bracket having a horizontal arm inserted through the side rail, the outer terminal of this arm adapted to be bent when applied to extend transversely across the outer side of the said rail in planes at right angles to the grain of the latter, and a downwardly and outwardly inclined brace-arm the two arms at their point of intersection and the bracearm at its lower end having eyes which are emlbedded and secured to the step and side rai In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN JACKSON.

Witnesses:

FR. DIEGKMANN, A. H. PADDooK. 

